#Chibokgirls sweep Buhari’s launch against violence
The plight of girls still in captivity since Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped them from their school last April in Chibok, Borno overshadowed President Muhammadu Buhari’s launch on Tuesday of the year of action to end violence against children.
Nigerian Children’s Parliament said Nigerian children could not commend the efforts of the Buhari administration until resolutions for better protection of children were implemented and the Chibok girls returned.
In an emotive speech, teenager Aisha Ibrahim, a representative of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament said, “Before Nigerian children will applaud the effort of the government, [it] will not be until our resolutions are implemented and until the Chibok girls are found and brought home. We ask for no more and we deserve no less.”
President Buhari pledged his administration was “ready to show commitment and prepared to mobilise Nigerians to end violence against children, and show them love and care.”
In comments delivered by the head of the civil service, Danladi Kifasi, the president said it was common knowledge that children suffered violence but it was considered “part of training.”
The survey conducted by the National Population Commission and partners that include UNICEF and USCDC, found six out of 10 Nigerian children experience “some form of violence” before they reach age 18.
It also found half of all Nigerian children suffered sexual violence, while one in four girls and one in 10 boys suffered sexual violence.
One in six girls and 20% of boys suffered emotional violence by a parent, caregiver or adult relative, the survey revealed.
The year of action to end violence against children has been trending worldwide on #endVACNGR days before its official launch on Tuesday.
Among its resolutions, the children’s parliament demands posting of security to all schools to prevent recurrence of the Chibok incident.
“It has been over 500 days since the kidnap of the Chibok girls, yet this leaves a bitter memory in the heart of Nigerians today,” said Ibrahim.
In addition, it wants existing legislation that protect children to be strengthened and the Child Rights Act, which Nigeria signed up to in 1990, domesticated across states where it is yet to go into effect.